Induced gas flotation for separation facility

Abstract

A method can include providing at a location remote from a tank of a pre-existing separation facility an induced gas separation unit including a pump and an eductor, then transporting the induced gas separation unit to the separation facility, then connecting the induced gas separation unit to the tank, and then operating the induced gas separation unit, thereby pumping gas into a fluid composition in the tank. A system can include an induced gas separation unit with a pump and an eductor mounted to a portable structure, a line providing fluid communication between a pump inlet and the fluid composition in at least one tank, a line providing fluid communication between the eductor and a gas in the tank, and a third line providing fluid communication between an eductor outlet and the fluid composition in the tank.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of providing for induced gas separation at a pre-existing separation facility, the method comprising:
 at a location remote from at least one tank of the separation facility, providing an induced gas separation unit comprising a pump and an eductor;   then transporting the induced gas separation unit to the separation facility;   then connecting the induced gas separation unit to the at least one tank; and   then operating the induced gas separation unit, thereby pumping gas into a fluid composition in the at least one tank.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , in which the connecting step comprises providing fluid communication between the eductor and an upper gas-filled portion of the at least one tank. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , in which the connecting step comprises providing fluid communication between the at least one tank and an inlet of the pump. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , in which the connecting step comprises providing fluid communication between the at least one tank and an outlet of the pump. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 in which the at least one tank comprises at least one retention tank, and   in which the connecting step comprises providing fluid communication between the eductor and an upper gas-filled portion of the retention tank, providing fluid communication between the retention tank and an inlet of the pump, and providing fluid communication between the retention tank and an outlet of the pump.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 in which the at least one tank comprises at least first and second tanks, and   in which the connecting step comprises providing fluid communication between the eductor and an upper gas-filled portion of at least one of the first and second tanks, providing fluid communication between the first tank and an inlet of the pump, and providing fluid communication between the second tank and an outlet of the pump.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , in which the operating step comprises:
 pumping the fluid composition through the eductor, thereby admitting gas into the eductor and mixing the gas with the pumped fluid composition; and   varying a flow rate output of the pump, thereby correspondingly varying a flow rate of the gas mixed into the fluid composition.   
     
     
         8 . A system for providing induced gas separation at a pre-existing separation facility, the system comprising:
 an induced gas separation unit comprising a pump and an eductor, the pump being configured to flow a fluid composition through the eductor, and the pump and the eductor being mounted to a portable structure;   a first line providing fluid communication between an inlet of the pump and the fluid composition in at least one tank;   a second line providing fluid communication between the eductor and a gas in the at least one tank; and   a third line providing fluid communication between an outlet of the eductor and the fluid composition in the at least one tank.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , in which the at least one tank comprises a retention tank, the first line provides fluid communication between the inlet of the pump and the fluid composition in the retention tank, and the second line provides fluid communication between the eductor and the gas in the retention tank. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , in which the third line provides fluid communication between the outlet of the eductor and the fluid composition in the retention tank. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , in which the at least one tank comprises at least first and second tanks, the first line provides fluid communication between the inlet of the pump and the fluid composition in the first tank, and the third line provides fluid communication between the outlet of the eductor and the fluid composition in the first tank. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , in which the second line provides fluid communication between the eductor and the gas in the first tank. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , in which the second line provides fluid communication between the eductor and the gas in the second tank. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , in which the induced gas separation unit is separately displaceable from the at least one tank when the first, second and third lines are disconnected from the at least one tank. 
     
     
         15 . An induced gas separation unit for use with at least one tank of a separation facility, the induced gas separation unit comprising:
 a portable structure displaceable relative to the at least one tank;   a pump mounted to the portable structure;   a fluid composition inlet in fluid communication with an inlet of the pump;   an eductor having a first inlet in fluid communication with an outlet of the pump;   a fluid composition outlet in fluid communication with an outlet of the eductor; and   a gas inlet in fluid communication with a second inlet of the eductor.   
     
     
         16 . The induced gas separation unit of  claim 15 , in which a gas is mixed with a fluid composition in response to flow of the fluid composition from the pump to the fluid composition outlet via the eductor. 
     
     
         17 . The induced gas separation unit of  claim 16 , in which a mixer is connected between the eductor and the fluid composition outlet, and the mixer increases turbulence in the flow of the fluid composition from the eductor to the fluid composition outlet. 
     
     
         18 . The induced gas separation unit of  claim 15 , in which the pump and the eductor are connected in series between the fluid composition inlet and the fluid composition outlet. 
     
     
         19 . The induced gas separation unit of  claim 15 , in which the eductor, the gas inlet, the fluid composition inlet and the fluid composition outlet are mounted to the portable structure. 
     
     
         20 . The induced gas separation unit of  claim 15 , in which the portable structure comprises a skid on which the pump is mounted. 
     
     
         21 . A system for providing induced gas separation at a separation facility, the system comprising:
 an induced gas separation unit;   a first line providing fluid communication between an inlet of the induced gas separation unit and a fluid composition in at least one first tank;   a second line providing fluid communication between the induced gas separation unit and a gas in at least one of the group consisting of the at least one first tank and at least one second tank; and   a third line providing fluid communication between an outlet of the induced gas separation unit and the at least one second tank.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising a fourth line providing fluid communication between at least one third tank and water in the at least one second tank. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , further comprising at least one pump connected between the at least one third tank and a water disposal facility. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising at least one fourth tank which receives liquid oil from the at least one second tank. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 , in which the induced gas separation unit comprises a pump and an eductor, the pump being configured to flow the fluid composition through the eductor. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , in which the pump and the eductor are mounted to a portable structure. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 25 , in which the first line provides fluid communication between an inlet of the pump and the at least one first tank. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 25 , in which the second line provides fluid communication between the eductor and the gas in the at least one second tank. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 25 , in which the third line provides fluid communication between an outlet of the eductor and the fluid composition in the at least one second tank. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 21 , in which the induced gas separation unit is separately displaceable from the at least one first tank and the at least one second tank when the first, second and third lines are disconnected from the at least one first tank and the at least one second tank.